adg211288 Ulver, The Trilogie Part II: Kveldssanger (1996)

After making their groundbreaking debut album Bergtatt - Et Eeventyr i 5 Capitler (1995), Norwegian band Ulver made the unusual decision to remove the black metal elements of their music entirely on their second album Kveldssanger. Ulver is a band who later became known for having done much more work outside of metal than in, but at the time this album must surely have come as a surprise to fans of the band's debut.

Stripped back completely from what they were doing on Bergtatt and Ulver is basically left with just their dark folk elements. Vocalist Garm's role in the band is also rather reduced due to the album being mostly instrumental. There's no variance in style beyond that.

Kveldssanger is an album of roughly the same length as the previous but with many more tracks of much shorter durations. The music is pleasant and overall the length of the album is about right for it to remain enjoyable for the metalhead looking to experience a different side to the band, but for my part when I listen to the album I can't help but wonder how the ideas on display would have better fared if woven into atmospheric black metal tracks like the band were playing on Bergtatt. Many of these songs are short and don't seem to go very far before the next comes along.

Though not the first time Ulver would go fully non-metal, Kveldssanger still stands as a unique release in their discography due to being their only folk album. Out of their first three albums that traditionally form their black metal period (despite this one not having a second of metal in it) I can't really recommend it too highly. To me it seems to be more of a curiosity than anything, not really having a true place with their black metal work or later electronic based work. For those who like an 'odd one out' album though this is certainly worth a listen.

siLLy puPPy ULVER (Norwegian for “Wolves”) showed themselves to be a restless pack quickly wandering into completely new territory, raising their legs, marking it and making it their own. This nomadic seeker of new sounds were already changing things up on their second album KVELDSSANGER (“Twilight Songs”) by completely dropping the black metal aspects on their debut album and went full on dark Nowegian folk with emphasis on acoustic guitar, choral chanting accompanied by flutes, cello and occasional percussion. Technically the second part of the “Black Metal Trilogie,” someone forgot to tell them that the metal parts apparently didn’t make it into the final mix. While the folk music on this album was part of the debut, the absence of metal gives it a much mellower and laid back feel almost feeling like this could be some revivalist Renaissance music of sort.

Vocalist and founder Kristoffer Rygg admits this was an attempt to create a full-on classical piece and wasn’t satisfied with the outcome but for what technical prowess this album doesn’t exhibit, it more than makes up for it in atmospheric and meditative passages that find the vocal styles in perfect harmony with the classical acoustic guitar riffs and accompanying instruments. In fact, it sounds as if it was created by monks in a far away monastery evoking the sacred sounds of an era long passed with only the subtle orchestrations giving it away that it is a product of the modern era.

While the distortion of metal is nowhere to be found here, this classical imbued folk music still resinates on the darker side of things as if it is indeed the soundtrack for a pack of hungry wolves undercover of the night stalking their next victims deep in the forest under the full moon in the frigid Scandinavian winter. ULVER would once again enter black metal territory to finish out the trilogy but it should have been an obvious prognostication that this band had a hard time settling in one musical genre when after all didn’t even put the black metal in the middle chapter of the “Black Metal Trilogie.”

Warthur Ulver's second album isn't a black metal album at all - it's a collection of acoustic folk compositions, with the focus mainly on acoustic guitar with very occasional drumming and chanted vocals. However, fans of black metal and folk alike may find this album a curious and unique piece for the atmosphere the pieces evoke - it's melancholic, mysterious, and when the choral vocals kick in also takes on a hint of pride and majesty. On the whole, black metal fans may find it presents an intriguing acoustic folk take on the same themes as Ulver's black metal releases, whilst folk fans may find its spooky and haunting atmosphere enjoyable.

bonnek One of the things I admire about Ulver is that they bring something entirely different with each album. It shows their great artistic freedom and willfulness. In ignoring all possible fan disappointment and genre box thinking, it testifies of an anti-social individualism that is one of the main features of Black Metal.

The musical result hasn’t anything to do with black metal though. This is an entirely acoustic folk album heralding Nordic patriotism and in doing so adhering to the other main principles of black metal: paganism, nationalism and nostalgic idealization of the independence and glory of their Viking past. So philosophically this is pure black metal, musically it has nothing ado with it.

The 13 short tracks here contain music that should be listed under world or folk music if you would feel the need to classify it. Beautiful melancholic acoustic guitar picking, pagan chants, lots of atmospherics and quiet charm. This is an album for fans of Dead Can Dance or the Anathema spin-off Antimatter. I would even count in lovers of Nick Drake’s ultimate album Pink Moon or anyone else interested in moody acoustic folk music.

The dramatic diction of the vocals can be a bit grating at first but in no time you’ll go in search for a Viking helmet and wield your childhood sword around your living room. Yes, this calm acoustic campfire music evokes the strangest of images in me. Most songs are instrumental and all of them are peaceful and reflective, making this a perfect album to listen to in the darkness of winter nights just before you tuck in under the sheets. Just don’t forget to hide your Viking gear before family members find it!